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Showing posts from April, 2007

Firsts

This week is a week of firsts for me. First time doing a community charity event. The MDA lockup is on Wednesday. I get picked up at 1 pm at the HUB and have to bring the donations that have come in. We've raised $275.00 of the $1,000.00 goal so far. I am hoping to still see some money come in for Jerry's kids. Maybe I should do my own telethon for a good cause and call it, "Deurty's kids." That may not be good. First softball game this year on Thursday. The goal is to win at least three games this year and to not get smoked every week! First time I had to call an animal control person to remove a sick Raccoon from our yard. He was sitting under our tree all day and so we had to pay someone to remove it. There is nothing better than paying money to get one of nature's beasts out of our hair. First time I made brats for the year. Yum. sd

20% there.

I am currently at 20% of my goal to raise $1,000.00 for MDA and to get bailed out on Wednesday, May 2nd. Enjoying sitting outside today and playing baseball with my kids. I have pinned too much of my soul satisfaction on whether or not the Detroit Tigers win. Help! :) giddy up, sd

10% to goal.

Well I am now (at least through online giving) at 10% of the $1,000.00 goal for MDA. If you are interested in helping me get bailed out please visit my page at: Get Steve out of Jail! A special thanks to those who have emailed and told me that they didn't think I would last in the slammer. Thanks for the confidence! But, thank God, I'll be at Snug Harbor on May 2nd. Thanks! Prison break, sd

I need your help.

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Blogger friends... Please help me! I am being locked up "for good" for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. (Jerry's Kids.) Wednesday, May 2nd, I will be locked up and I must make my $1,000 bond to be released. Your gift is 100% deductible and will help continue research into the cause and the possible cure of the various neuromuscular diseases. It will also provide wheelchairs, clinic visits, summer camp, and other medical needs for those impacted by Muscular Dystrophy. If you are interested in helping you can link to my MDA page and donate or mail a check (payable to MDA) for your donation to me. (1114 Washington Ave. Grand Haven, MI 49417). Email me and let me know if you are interested and thanks for making a difference. Email: deur@iammarked.com. Donations needed by May 2nd. Thanks for taking the time to check it out. sd

Spring clean up

Today we are going to clean up, clean out, pick up, store, and get the house ready for summer. Another winter gone. Thank you God! I planted tulips along the front of my home and they are starting to come up. Since I grew up in Holland, I have always appreciated tulips. Tomorrow we discuss evil - oh the joys! Silence makes one look smart, sd I must look stupid. :)

Who is the Dungeons and Dragons dork?

That would be me. As a middle school/high school student I enjoyed playing D&D. My favorite part was creating characters and seeing how the characters I created come to life in an adventure. I thought it was cool. In fact I played D&D with some of the more "popular" kids in our school. However, I have found out that D&D is for dorks. On the most recent Alltell commercial they poke fun at D&D through the various dweeby representations of the cell phone companies. Watching "I love the 80's" on VH1 has a 'D&D was for geeks' spot within the show. So - I guess I was and probably still am a geek. BUT, I want to suggest that a whole new group of people (over five million) are now involved in a game very similar to D&D, but with less dependence on picturing things in the imagination. The new D&D for this generation is, "Second Life." Learn about it at: Second Life. There are some differences, but some of the same rea...

"You gotta learn."

My dad, David P. Deur, repeats to my children the instructive sentence: "You gotta learn." I think it is a good saying and one that I would like to live by. Being a continued learner is vital to living and growing. For me, I have been recently learning and growing from absorbing good teaching from Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. Tim is well read, well spoken, and challenging. I love his teaching and find it helpful as a follower of Jesus and as a pastor. If you are interested in listening to some of his talks go to this unofficial list: Tim Keller Resources. You gotta learn. I gotta learn to play golf. sd

What's the deal with evil?

This Sunday we will be seeking some insight and some traction regarding the question: "If God is there and He is good - why is there evil and suffering?" Today a horrible tragedy took place that begs that question. Check out the story: Tragic Killing at Virginia Tech. This will be front and center on everyone's mind as we seek guidance to this very timely question. Let there be Shalom, sd

if it were spring I would...

Here is the question today. What do you look forward to most when spring actually arrives? What are you chomping at the bit to do, but the weather has been putting you off? Let's take a moment and think about the fun things and big dreams we have planned when global warming actually touches West Michigan. For me - I look forward to sitting around the fire pit in my backyard and eating hot dogs and baked beans with the kids. I look forward to sitting on the front porch area reading in the evening while it is still light out. I look forward to walks downtown and along the boardwalk. I look forward to ice cream in a cone and not ice on my yard. My dream is to have a small garden. Yeah right. sd How about you?

questionmark

This Sunday we are beginning a new conversation entitled, "questionmark." We are going to be searching for the answers and wrestling with the ideas surrounding questions that people submitted. This will be an incredibly difficult series because I am not the brightest lighthouse on the shore and these questions don't have nice little complete answers. The search for answers is the fun part. Taking people on that journey is a clarity challenge. If you want to heckle me and our team - you can show up on Sunday at 9:15 and 11:00 am. (I would prefer it if you heckled me after you heard my responses in a more private location.) :) Some of the questions we've gotten: Why did God create Satan when He knew he was going to be evil? How can bad things happen when God is good? How do we decide which Old Testament laws to follow and which ones to ignore? Is Jesus the only way? What about other religions? How does Watermark feel about... drinking alcohol, capital punishment...

"Gentle Heidi"

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The summer of 1976. I was almost five years old and afraid of dogs. My parents wisely purchased a dog to help me face my fears. We added a yellow labrador retriever into our family. She was named, "Gentle Heidi." She lived up to her name. She was always patient, always loving, always gentle, and always there. I've thought about her a bit this week as I've prepared for the Easter message tomorrow. I am discussing fear and things we fear. So, I reflected on my life and my fears and recalled my fear of dogs. Out of that fear came this wonderful dog into our lives. Here is a pic of me and Heidi after we got her as a pup in the summer of 1976. I remember that summer. See many of you tomorrow at the performing arts center in Grand Haven High School. Watermark's Site for more info. sd

Read a book and pop in on Easter.

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My friend Kory VanDyke, who is a part of Watermark, recently wrote a book entitled, "Never Letting Go." I just bought it from Amazon.com and started reading it. Congrats to Kory for your hard work and seeing your story get published! This Sunday we are meeting at the performing arts center in Grand Haven High School. Should be a nice change of pace and the environment should facilitate a meaningful experience. Join us at 9:15 and 11:00 am. Hope to see you! I love Cadbury Eggs, sd

Bless you boys

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Today is the first day of summer. The Tigers are back and I am pumped. :) sd